Rita & Maria

558 Halsey St, Brooklyn, NY 11233, United States
+1 917-966-1539
$$$ Cafe , Bar , Breakfast restaurant , Cocktail bar , Coffee shop , Lunch restaurant , Wine bar
(99 Reviews)
Price Range $1–10

Rita & Maria sits comfortably at the intersection of a café and a neighborhood bar, offering a blend of morning and evening vibes that reflect the rhythm of its Bedford-Stuyvesant surroundings. Nestled on Halsey Street, this spot is well-suited for locals who appreciate having a reliable place to grab quality coffee, warm pastries, and later, inventive cocktails and wine in a laid-back setting.

During daytime hours, Rita & Maria attracts those who want more than just a quick caffeine fix. The space feels both cozy and unpretentious, a place where regulars come with laptops to focus or settle in with a book. The natural light and thoughtfully curated aesthetic provide a mellow backdrop without feeling sterile. This is the kind of café where baristas remember your name and start casual conversations that linger without pressure—a subtle but meaningful touch in a city where most places keep to themselves.

Pastry offerings, including apple desserts, cheesecake, croissants, and muffins, have a homemade feel that pairs seamlessly with the exceptional coffee. Many patrons make the trip a regular part of their morning routine, often accompanied by their dogs enjoying the nearby walkable neighborhood. The food is prepared with care — simple, comforting, and satisfying without fuss. Hard boiled eggs served alongside giardiniera speak to a kitchen not afraid to combine familiarity with unexpected local flavors.

As afternoon light softens, the café reveals its second identity as a quiet wine and cocktail bar, ideal for winding down with friends or celebrating small moments. The warmth of the staff carries over into this later shift, offering a convivial but relaxed atmosphere that feels more like visiting a friend’s home than a typical bar scene.

Rita & Maria works best for those who want a consistent neighborhood spot with a fluid identity — equally workable as a focused daytime coffee shop and a casual evening hangout. It’s not flashy, but it’s genuine, a place where the experience is shaped by genuine human connections and thoughtfully made offerings rather than overt trendiness or noise.

Highlights
Fast service
Great coffee
Great tea selection
Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Solo dining
What they serve
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Organic dishes
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegetarian options
Wine
Best for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dessert
Seating
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible car park

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

08:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Tuesday

08:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Wednesday

08:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Thursday

08:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Friday

08:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Saturday

08:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Sunday

08:00 AM - 03:00 PM

99 Reviews
denise h.

28 Dec 2025

I will go the distance for excellent coffee and pastries and Rita & Maria has both!! I’ve been coming to this quaint cafe for the past 2 years or more. The cafe is a 20 min walk from my place and it’s well worth the trek. I would typically walk over with my dog, so it gave him a chance to sniff along the way. Each of the many visits have been a good experience. The staff is always welcoming and friendly, no matter how busy they are and there is typically a bit of a line. I’ve had my fair share of delicious pastries—maybe to my own detriment (working on discipline)! Rita & Maria’s never fails to impress, always offering a unique twist on their pastries and changing them for the seasons. Their baker creates some wonderful creations. The most recent tasty, perfect pastry was their citrus olive oil fennel cake. Soo soo good and moist. The fennel gave it a nice twist. The sizable piece was perfect and once I finished I wanted to have another! Of course, it’s all about moderation. I’ll be back for a slice another day!

Maya Acra

17 Dec 2025

Ultra cute coffee shop, great baristas, best coffee shop around here to bring your laptop and focus on work work work. Love this place. Or get a book and read it. Baristas are fun and would open a conversation with you and keep at it without becoming bothered, which is rare these days. So aesthetically pleasing & mellow. Love this place.

Alysa Polczynski

18 Nov 2025

A very welcomed addition to the neighborhood! Beautiful and friendly atmosphere, great coffee and delicious pastries and snacks. Come here every morning for my coffee and am greeted by the very warm staff. A great cafe to sit and work or catch up with a friend over a bite! Really looking forward to an extended menu and later hours!

Suzy Lee

12 Nov 2025

I don’t think I’ve ever visited a single other establishment with as much devotion as this one. It always feels like visiting your friend’s on a cozy morning - the food is delicious and made with care. I never knew how good it is to start your morning with a hard boiled egg and giardiniera but now I’m a believer. There’s nothing on the menu I wouldn’t recommend. The staff feels like the cast to a cute & artsy 90’s sitcom. They make me feel lucky to live in my neighborhood.

Sapir

08 Nov 2025

Everything there is on fleek Feels like home-vintage ! Everything somehow was in harmony, and handmade- loveit! If i lived in the neighborhood i would jump by very morning *I took the lemon poppy tea sumac cupcake !

Town And Country Esquire

01 Nov 2025

The coolest and really great quaint coffee shop in my neighborhood of Stuyvesant Heights with a retro feel. GREAT iced oat milk matcha, cardamom buns and oatmeal cookies-everything looks good. Reasonably priced, cool and laid back atmosphere, nice staff and patrons. Wish it was open longer but I get it!!!

Bruce

17 Sep 2025

Solid coffee , cute place, great hangout vibe. I'm very pro animal products so I can't really judge the food. I believe it's all vegan? Staff are very delightful.

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